A group of Columbia activists are promoting organic agricultural practices as a way to improve community health and the environment. The Columbia Climate Change Coalition met Thursday, June 20, to discuss ways to better the environment through organic agriculture.

The Columbia Climate Change Coalition is part of Peoples’ Visioning, which is a group that discusses climate, finance, energy, public health, education and transportation.

The Vietnamese ambassador to the United States is visiting Missouri for the first time this week to discuss trade opportunities and student growth.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong met with US Congressmember Vicky Hartzler, Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid and University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe to discuss the opportunities for trade between Missouri and Vietnam.

During the discussion, Hartzler noted that the demand for agricultural products in Vietnam presents an opportunity for Missouri producers.

The University of Missouri Extension is offering a series of courses aimed at helping women in agriculture.

The courses are part of Annie's Project, a program that started in Illinois about nine years ago, and has since spread to other states. The program is named for an Illinois woman who ran a farm and raised six children in the 1950s.

Topics include farm record-keeping and taxes, business plans, how property is titled, pasture rental contracts and estate planning.